FRSC Bars Officers From Escorting Politicians During 2027 Campaigns

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed its personnel not to escort politicians or deploy patrol vehicles and sirens for partisan activities during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.

The Zonal Commanding Officer of RS6, Assistant Corps Marshal Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive on Wednesday during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar.

Owolabi warned officers against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians. She also prohibited the use of patrol vehicles and sirens for private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.

She said personnel assigned to campaign venues must concentrate on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.

The zonal commander urged officers to intensify public education on road safety, noting that sustained awareness campaigns could help reduce crashes and fatalities.

She also cautioned personnel against extortion, corruption and other forms of misconduct, warning that such behaviour could undermine public confidence in the corps.

“Misconduct by patrol operators and other personnel undermines public confidence in the corps. Officers must be extremely accountable across operational units,” she said.

Owolabi advised officers to protect themselves during enforcement operations and avoid unnecessary confrontations that could result in assaults, injuries or damage to their uniforms.

She urged personnel to exercise professionalism and discretion when dealing with motorists, particularly in tense situations that could escalate into violence.

The commander also called for stronger partnerships with private operators to ensure that broken-down vehicles were removed promptly from highways and traffic obstructions cleared.

She stressed the need for quick emergency response, effective rescue operations and intensified patrols to reduce road crashes and deaths.

“I urge FRSC personnel to maintain high standards of service delivery, process official correspondence carefully and ensure requests for operational support are properly documented,” she said.

Owolabi also encouraged officers to prioritise their health and make use of the National Health Insurance Scheme, noting that their wellbeing was essential to effective service delivery.

She appealed to members of the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA) to support their husbands in carrying out their duties and protecting lives on the roads.